Brush-sieve for confectionery machines



Aug. 6, 1957 A. DUMAS BRUSH-SIEVE FOR CONFECTIONERY MACHINES Z5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 17, 1953 A. DUMAS BRUSH-SIEVE FOR CONFECTIONERY MACHINES Aug. 6, 1957 y s sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1953 Aug. 6, 1957 A. DUMAS 2,801,598

BRUSH-SIEVE FOR CONFECTIONERY MACHINES Filed July 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 AHorm 2.7/

United States Patent Oce .2,801,598 Patented Aug. 6, 11957 BRUSH-SIEVE FOR CONFECTIONERY MACHINES Albert Dumas, Puteaux, France, assigner to Ste: Anciens Etablissements A. Savy, Jeanjean & Cie, a French body corporate, Courbevoie, France, and Ste: Baker Perkins Limited, Petersborough, England, an Englsh'ody con porate Application July 17, 1953, Serial No. 368,619

Claims priority, application France July 25, 1952 3 Claims. (Cl. 107-44) or articles, so molded in molds arranged in stacks, solidify in the open air or in stoves. The molds arethen overturned onto a sieve to separate the 'articles from the starch, the latter being used again.

To completely remove the starch adhering to thesur face or in the crevices of the molded products, it is necessary to `pass the latter through a `special cleaning apparatus including generally, at its lower part, `a vibrating brush-sieve and, at its upper part, `a brush having a reduced area moving with reciprocating motion on that brush-sieve. The installationmay be completed `with `a blower or suction device.

Brush-sieves in general use comprise `a rigid perforated stand, the upper face of'which extends in a direction parallel to the surface generated by the bristles `of the moving brush (said surface being a segment `of acylinder if `this brush oscillates about a fixed axis). The tufts ofbristles of the `brush-sieve protrude from -the stand in a direction perpendicular to `said face, `eachof these .tufts extending through one of the meshes of `a metal .grid.disposed parallelly to and at a certaindistance from said face. The. generatricesof the brush-sieve surface as well as Athe axis of the swinging brush are inclined so as to obtain an .automatic displacement of the brushed articles towards the discharge or output end of the brush-sieve.

Such a brush-sievegpossesses very serious drawbacks and in particular the following:

l. The brushing `surface defined by .the ends of the bristles, `are uneven owing to the gaps between the tufts to allow discharge of the starch; hence brittle `articles are impaired when they strike the metal screen.

2. `The tufts are too rigid and the surface formed by their adjoining ends is too hard and hence ineiiicientfor the cleaning operation.

3. 'Ille` sieve does not allow the starch to pass freely through, since the `stand or the` individual bruslrmountings and the tufts themselves offer 'too muchobstruction to the :passage of starch `and hence `frequent cleaning is required.

4. `The rate 'of discharge of the products at the end of the brush-sieve is low; in spite of the inclination ofthe brushing surface the products move `too slowly and accumulate `in large numbers, which increases the number of `collisions and diminishes cleaning efficiency.

5. The cost price of the machine is veryfhigh owing to the fact that the tufts are packed close together and to the `provision of the grid through the apertures of which the tufts extend.

,The invention has for its principal object to provide an improved brush-sieve, which is free from these drawbacks.

The invention has for further object to provide a brush-sieve which comprises inclined tufts which malte an acute `angle .with the upper face of said brush-sieve and which are superposed in the manner of the cereal straws of a thatch roof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for confectionery articles and the like,` which includes a brushing device provided with a brush-sieve having inclined tufts.

The following advantages are afforded by the invention:

`1. The `brushing surface is more even than that of known brush-sieves, though it allows a 'higher rate of starch discharge therethrough owing to the gaps between the tufts.

2. Thetufts arenot associated with any grid and are in consequence much more supple; they do not retard or grip `the -products but on the contrary, due `to their vibrations, .assist the displacement of the products and ldirect thernftowards the output end of the brush-sieve.`

3. The construction is very much simplified land in consequence the cost price of the machine is reduced.

Other features and advantages of the invention `will be apparent from `the following description.

:In ,the `appendedclrawingsylgiven 4only -by `way of example:

Fig. il is a vertical, diagrammatic sectionalview of a part ofa confectionery product machine and more particularly the part thereof adapted to clean the molded product, this part including a brush-sieve embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse sectional view on line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. -3 is a horizontal, longitudinal, diagrammatic sectional view on line3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 shows `a partial longitudinal sectional View of a `small mold, theiconfectionery -products `being shown embedded in the starch;

'Fig v5-is a vertical, transverse Asectional viewon line 5--5 of -Figf of the brush-sieve, `to a scale greater than that of Figs. 1 to 3;

Fig. -6 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the brush-sieve on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7^is a-plan view thereof;

Fig. A8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view thereof, to allarger scale;

"Fig 9 is a corresponding plan View;

Fig. 10 is a Vertical transverse sectional view of a modification of `the 'brush-sieve, and

lFig. `11 is a plan view thereof.

Reference will `first be had to Figs. l to 3 in which, in order toshow better the advantages oftheA brushfsieve of the invention,thisbrush-sieve `is shown in one of its applications, lmounted in the cleaning part'of a machine of known type adapted to produce confectionery prod ucts by pouring syrup into cavities formed in starch.

`This machine includes a housing forming a tunnel, formed by two vertical longitudinal walls `1, connected by spacers `2 and covers 3.

At A, at the left end `of the machine part shown in Fig. 1, is provided a loading station for `the fsmallmchests or molds 4, filled with starch 5 (see Fig. 4) in which are formed cells `6; into each cell has been poured a product 7, confectionery for example. `The full molds ,are received at 4a by afirst endless conveyor B.

AtB, the moldsarrive, one by one,` at a tipping station where a conventional mechanism, not shown, turns the molds upside down. The empty molds are automatically returned to their normal position at 4b on a second endless conveyor 91 which conveys the molds toward the right end of the machine as seen in Fig. 1 before a filling station C where they receive a new supply of starch 5c, then through a shaving station where an upper plane surface y is formed on the starch layer, and -inally through a station E where new cells 6e are` formed. The molds then leave the shown machine part and reach a pouring station adjacent the right end of the machine where the cells receive the sirup or other product which forms a new set of articles in the mould.

The starch 5b and the articles 6b unloaded in bulk at station B, Ifall on a vibrating table, which constitutes one of the devices of the cleaning part F.

This vibrating table comprises two longitudinal members -11 braced by cross members i12, so as to constitute a rigid frame. The latter is longitudinally inclined from the input end of the machine (left end in Fig. l) to the output end where it lies on a roll `13. At the input end the frame is pivotally mounted on a shaft 14 carried by two twin levers 15 pivoted at 16 to the walls 1. Oscillatory motion is imparted to one of these levers 15 by a crank-shaft 17, the journal of which is supported in one of the walls 1. The crankpin 1S, `eccentric with respect 'to the axis of the shaft 17, is lodged in a hole 19H of the lever. The vibrating table receives therefore reciprocating motion in the direction of arrow f1 and in the opposite direction.

The frame (1-1, 12) of said vibrating table carries a well 19 which is solid and plane at the input end of the table and is thereafter progressively curved in the transverse direction, perforations being provided in this curved portion. On this wall takes place an initial separation of starch 5Cl from products 6b, which roll towards the lower part of the wall 19, while starch which passes through said wall i-s received by a device 20 which returns it to the loading station C. v

The brush-sieve T according to the invention is located beyond the perforated wall 19 with respect to the direction of movement of the products. Said sieve is of general arcuate shape; it is placed in the prolongation of the wall 19. Above the brush-sieve T is disposed an oscillating brush 21 carried by arms 22, pivoted at 23 to xed cross-members 24 and actuated by connecting rods 25 driven by crankshafts 26.

The brush-sieve T includes a certain number of independent sections z1, t2 t4 (Figs. l, 2) placed end to end between the vibrating table members 11.

Reference will now be had to one of the sections, for example section t1 shown in Figs. 5 to 9.

This section consists of a rigid frame made of two longitudinal bars 27. The width l of the frame is equal, apart from a very little clearance necessary for assembly, to the distance between the inner opposite faces of the members 11 of the vibrating table, so that said section t1 can be slid between those members, the bars 27 resting on brackets 28 (Figs. l, 2) secured under said members 11.

Bars 27 are rigidly connected together by a number, for instance two, of arches 29, secured to bars 27 by mortise-and-tenon joints 31a or otherwise.

On the arches 29 are fastened a number of longitudinal bars 31.

On said bars `31 are secured parallel to arches 29, brush mountings 32. Each of said mountings, made of wood or similar material, is shaped as an arch, with such radius that after assembly of the t1 section between members 11 of the vibrating table, the arch centers of the said mountings are on the axis of oscillation of the brush 21.

The cross-section of mountings 32, abcd (Fig. 8), is trapezoidal, the larger side bd corresponding to the face 33 facing the output end of the machine, whilst the top side ab is oblique as shown, obliqueness is about ten degrees to the horizontal for instance.

Tufts 35, each made up of a certain number of bristles or hair, which can advantageously be made of nylon, are fastened to the face 33 of each mounting 32 by insertion in blind holes 34.

Each hole 34 runs parallel with the top side ab of the mounting 32, and so does the longitudinal axis of each tuft which is more or less divergent with respect to said axis. Each tuft has such length that said tuft extends beyond the following mounting, all the tufts of a given mounting leaning against the following mounting and partially covering the tufts fastened to said latter in the manner of the straws of a thatched roof.

Comprised between the tufts and the mountings 32 are spaces 36 (Fig. 9), the width thereof being, of course, less than that of the articles 6 to be cleaned.

Sections t1, t2 t4 are slid one after the other between the members 11 of the table at its output end and locked into position.

As will be understood, when oscillations are imparted to the vibrating table by shaft 17 and when at the same time shafts 26 actuate in the same manner the brush 21, the articles are subjected to the brushing action of tufts 35 of the brush-sieve T as well as that of the swinging brush 21, and are cleaned of the starch which more or less covers their surface. The starch passes through the gaps 36 provided between tufts 35 and falls on the metal bottom and a conveyor 37 brings it back to elevator 20.

During that time, the cleaned articles roll toward the output lend of the brush-sieve T and finally fall into a conventional chute 38 (Fig. l).

The advantages of the brush-sieve according to the invention will now be much better understood:

l. The brushing surface of said brush-sieve is even or regular for it is purely and simply constituted by the tufts 35 considered in their length direction.

2. This surface works more progressively and less roughly on the articles than a surface obtained by standing the tufs 39 on end; it will be noticed that owing to the rfact that the tufts are directed toward the output end of the machine the article such as 6 (Figs. 8, 9) contacting the ends 39 of one or several tufts is not heavily pressed against the said ends.

3. Owing to resilience of the tufts which are extremely free and accordingly very supple, these tufts tend to repel the articles and thereby assist their progression towards output :end of the machine.

4. The cost price of sections t1 t4 of the brushsieve is very low, for each brush element (3235) `can be machine made and its assembly is very easy.

5. The brush units (32, 35) form themselves spacer elements between longitudinal bars 27, which permits decreasing the number of arches 29; further, the passage of starch is facilitated and the weight of the blush-sieve unit is lowered; now, lightening of the oscillating blushsieve is of the utmost importance, since a decrease in the kinetic energy of the moving mass allows an appreciable decrease in the size of the stands and of the driving parts of the whole vibrating table.

In Figs. l0 and 1l is shown a modification of the brushsieve, in which the weight is still more lowered, for the arches 29 and intermediate bars 31 of the foregoing embodiment are eliminated. Mountings 33, bearing the tufts 35, are directly fastened to both longitudinal bars 27a4 constituted by two metal structures.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described since many changes and modications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The brush-sieve according to the invention is, of course, utilizable in anytype of machine other than the one Shown.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for confectionery articles and the like which must be cleansed by brushing of a layer of pulverulent product, these articles moving in a certain direction inside the machine; a brush-sieve support inclined downwards in said direction at an angle not exceeding 30; at least one brush-sieve supported by said brush-sieve support, said brush-sieve comprising a rigid frame made of two longitudinal side bars and arcuate cross-members disposed in transverse parallel planes and connected together by said bars, and tufts engaged in holes provided on an arc of a circle in each of said arcuate cross-members, said arcs of circles being all disposed on a single geometrical part-cylindrical surface, the axes of said tufts being disposed in radial planes inside said part-cylindrical surface and inclined at an angle not exceeding 45 in relation with the longitudinal axes of said bars, each of the transverse arcuate rows of tufts thus formed, substantially in adjacent transverse parallel planes, being spaced from and partly overhung by the adjacent previous row and partly overhanging the adjacent next row; and-an auxiliary brush mounted swinging about an axis iixed on said frame above said brush-sieve, said axis coinciding with the geometrical axis of said part-cylindrical surface.

2. In a machine for confectionery articles and the like which must be cleansed by brushing of a layer of a pulverulent product, these articles moving in a certain direction inside the machine; a brush-sieve support inclined downwards in said direction at an angle not exceeding 30; at least one brush-sieve supported by said brush-sieve support, said brush-sieve comprising a rigid frame made of two longitudinal side bars and arcuate cross-members disposed in transverse parallel planes and connected together by said bars, the transversal section of these cross-members being a trapezium the upper side of which is inclined at an angle not exceeding 45 in relation with the longitudinal axis of said bars, and for each cross-member, tufts engaged in holes provided on an arc of a circle in its face corresponding to the larger base of said section said arcs of circles being all disposed on a single geometrical part-cylindrical surface, the axes of said tufts being disposed in radial planes inside said part-cylindrical surface and inclined in a direction substantially parallel to said upper inclined side, each tuft leaning on the oblique upper face of the adjacent cross member, and each of the transverse rows of tufts thus formed, substantially in adjacent parallel planes being spaced from and partly overhung by the adjacent previous row and partly overhanging the adjacent next row; and an auxiliary brush swinging about an axis fixed on said frame above said brush-sieve, said axis coinciding with the axis of said part-cylindrical surface.

3. In a machine for confectionery articles and the like which must be cleansed by brushing of a layer of pulverulent product, these articles moving in a certain direction inside the machine; a vibrating table inclined downwards in said direction at an angle not exceeding 30; at least one brushsieve supported by said vibrating table, said brush-sieve comprising a rigid frame made of two longitudinal side bars and arcuate cross-members disposed in transverse parallel planes and connected together by said bars, and tufts engaged in holes provided on an arc of a circle in each of said arcuate cross-members, said arcs of circles being all disposed on a single geometrical part-cylindrical surface, the axes of said tufts being disposed in radial planes inside said partcylindrical surface and inclined at an angle not exceeding 45 in relation with the longitudinal axes of said bars, each of the transverse arcuate rows of tufts thus formed, substantially in adjacent transverse parallel planes, being spaced from and partly overhung by the adjacent previous row and partly overhanging the adjacent next row, said tufts pointing in said direction and being fastened in their upstream ends while their downstream ends are free; and an auxiliary brush mounted swinging about an axis fixed on said frame above said brush-sieve, said axis coinciding with the axis of said part-cylindrical surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 99,304 Foster Feb. 1, 1870 527,662 Carlson Oct. 16, 1894 958,338 Walker May 17, 1910 2,507,930 Perkins May 16, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 62,687 Netherlands Mar. l5, 1949 371,124 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1932 525,627 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1940 

